Correspondence device



N. OTTINGER. CORRESPONDENCE DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED APR,27, 1917'.

Patentea A r; 111, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

IN VENTOH a ha W mm D 2.

ATTORNEY Mmw;

N. OTTINGER.

CORRESPONDENCE DEVICE.

APPLICATION mm APR..27. 1911.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A Home) NATHAN OTTINGER,

or new Yon-K, n. Y.

CORRESPONDENCE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. ii, ieaa.

Application filed April 27, 1917. Serial No. 164,968.

T 0 all whom it mayconccrn:

Be it known that I, NATHAN OTTINGER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Correspondence Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invent-ion relates to improvements in correspondence devices and more especially in devices intended for unsealed communications, advertisements or the like, although in several of the forms shown, the communication may also be sealed, if desired. Among the purposes is to provide a cheap and inexpensive device which in the case of all the drawings shown herein can be cut or stamped from a single sheet of paper in one operation and in several of the forms it is not even necessary to have any gumming or securing means whatsoever, other than the form of the device, and-nevertheless, when the device is ready for mailing, a well secured packet is formed. In all of the devices shown in this invention, the device can be inserted in a typewriting machine, press or other contrivance and the name and address be written at a single operation with the body of the correspondence.

With these and other objects in view. enibodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. and will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto and finally pointed out in theclairns.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved invention, showing the blank before folding. 1

Figure 2 shows the same in the form in which it is preferably marketed.-

Figure 3 shows the same addressed and ready for mailing.

Figure f is a plan view of a modified form of the invention. 7

Figure 5 show the same ready for mail mg.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of another modified form of my invention.

Figure 7 shows the same folded and ready for mailing.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a further modified form of my invention.

Figure 9 shows the same'folded and ready for mailing.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a still further modified form of my invention.

Figure 11 hows the same folded and ready for mailing.

Figure 12 is a plan view of still another form of my invention.

Figure 13 shows the same folded and ready to be written upon.

Figure 14 shows the same sealed and ready for mailing; and

Figure 15 is a rear plan view of another form of my invention folded up and ready for mailing.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, a portion A on a sheet of material is provided vith alarge opening between its two edges which are adjacent a line of folding 31-, such por tion A is also provided with a central portion 20 which is provided with two extensions 20 and 21 adapted to fold under said central portion. An edge 28 of the opening is bent along the line 27 in such manner that when the portion A is folded down upon the portion B, the said bend will be towards the said portion 13. This bend may be made by creasing or by applying some chemical or other material to accomplish the result. The portion A is further provided with cuts 26 for the purpose of oo-operating with the portions 22 of the spring flaps 22 hereinafter described. The portion B is provided with flaps 22 along each of its edges 23, said flaps being adapted to be bent over along the said edges and secured along the lines 2st to form spring flaps which can easily be moved baclc ward or forward by means of cuts 24: in the ends of the line of folding 31 and other cuts 2 f in the ends of the line of folding 82. Said flaps are provided respectively with cut out portions 22 to facilitate portions 22 of said flaps being inserted between the por tion 20 and the extensions 20 and 21 by means of which insertion interlocking means are formed. The portions C D C and D are additional writing portions attached to the portions C and D, and the line of folding 30 along which the portions C and D are to be folded upon the portions 0' and, D is slightly to the left of the perforated line 25 which is upon the portions A and B; Said line of perforations 25 is at the left of the partially folded. In preparin ing 33, 32 and 31, and the portion A is then folded down, and the extensions 20" and 21 are folded underneath the portion 20 and above the portion B so as to embrace the other folded portions of the device. The spring flaps 22 are then easily bent backward by means of the cuts 2 land 24 and their free edges 22 engage upon and embrace and close the open ends of the entire folded device. The portions 22 of the said spring flaps are then inserted through the cuts 26 betweenthe portion 20 and the extensions 20 and 21 thus forming interlocking means. In folding the device as hereinbefore described the cut 34 in the portion C will engage over and close a corresponding part of portion A.

Figure 3 showsthe device folded as aforesaid and ready for mailing.

Ifit be desired to havea sealed communication the entire spring flaps 22, though preferably not above the points 22", may be gummed and sealed to the device after it is folded. If it be desired to open the device, if mailed in an unsealed condition, it' is merely necessary to press back the spring flaps and then the contents are easily opened. If the device be sealed, it can easily be opened along the perforated line 25 without tearing any of the contents which may then be easily unfolded.

It is obvious that the opening in the portion A can be given a rectangular, circular, semicircular, diagonal, irregular or any other shape, some of which are-shown in the other drawings.

Figures 4 and 5 show a modified form of my invention, intended to be used chiefly for unsealed communications. Tn this form, no gumming or securing means whatever, aside from the mere shape of the device, are

i 7 used and yet a well secured and locked packet is produced. It is of the simplest andcheapest possible manufacture, be ng made from a single sheet, by a single stamping. Ub-

, vlOllSly, the flaps may, if desired, be made from separate pieces of material. The portion B is provided at its top with a portion 20 having extensions 20" and 21, the flaps 22are ordinary flaps Without gumming and are provided with extensions 22*. When the device has been written upon the portion C folded upon the portion along the line of folding 32, the portion 20 is then bent over the portion C, the extensions 20 and 21 are folded under the portion C, and the part of the portion C which is embraced within the cut 34: is placed over the edge 28 0f the por-' tion 20. The flaps 22 are then placed over the portion C and the parts 22* of said flaps are placed under the portion 20, thus locking the device closed.

Figure 5 shows the device closed and ready for mailing. It is obvious that in this form and indeed in all the forms shown in the drawings, additional writing space of practically any amount maybe obtained by providing additional folds or sections below, or at the sides of, the portion 0 or by additional sheets which may have pre pared folds. The portion 20 may be of any depth not exceeding that of the portion B in this or any applicable modified form of the device. 7 Figure 6 shows another modified form'of my invention, chiefly for unsealed communications, forming a well secured packet without any gumming or sealing means upon the blank, which may be made by one cut ting from a single sheet. The portion 20' is provided with extensions 20 and 21, the

lines of folding 29 and 30 being in line with the inner. lines of the extensions 20 and 21'. The portions B and C are. folded along the line 29 and the portions B and C are folded-along thev line 30 and the device is then folded horizontally along the line of folding 32 upon the portion B. The portion 20 is then bent down over the portion C and theextensions 20 and 21ers then folded under the side openings formed between the portions B and C and B and C 7 Figure 7 shows the device ready for mailmg. 7

Figure 8 shows another modified form of my invention intended chiefly for unsealed communications. In this form, the opening in portion A is rectangular and the entire opening has a bent portion 28, similar to that described in Figure 1.

Figure 9-shows the same folded and ready for mailing. The operation of this form is extremely simple It is merely folded up along the lines of folding 33,32 and .31

which may be prepared lines of folding, the ,portion A is then folded down and the spring flaps snapped so that their free edges 22 engage upon and enfold the under side of the portion B. It is obvious that the spring flaps'may be closed at either or both ends to formpockets.

Figure 10 shows another modified form of my invention, intended chiefly for unsealed communications, in which the portion B has a portion 20 without extensions,

attached along its upper edge and spring flaps along edges 23. The method of operation is similar to the formshown in Figures 8 and 9, except that the portion 20 is folded down over the portion C when the device is folded,'and the free edges 22 of the flaps 22 engage upon and enfold the upper side of portion 0.-

Figure 11 shows this device ready for mailing.

Figure 12 shows another modified form of my invention, intended for sealed communications. In this form there are no spring flaps or cuts. The flaps 22 are entirely gummed, one of said flaps being on the portion A and the other on the portion B, and a perforated line 25 runs along the device and is located to the left of one of the flaps when in sealed position.

Figure 13 shows the same form ready tobe written upon and Figure 14 shows it ready for mailing with the sealing flaps sealed, one upon the underside of the portion B and the other upon the upper side of the portion C.

Figure 15 is a rear view of another modified form of my invention, folded up and ready for mailing and difiers from the form shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14: in that the flaps 36 and 37 are upon one fold, are ungummed and are of such dimensions as to overlap each other and are provided with oppositely extending slits 36 and 37 re spectively which permit the said extensions to interlock with each other across the back of the device, thereby retaining the same securely folded, also no perforations are necessary in this form of my invention.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory forms of my invention, but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a sheet of material foldable to form two of more folds, spring flaps on one of said folds in proximity to, and extending in the direction of, each of the edges of said fold which are adjacent a line of folding, said fold forming one of the two exterior folds when said sheet is folded up, said flaps adapted to fold upon the outer surface of the other exterior fold and the fold which contains said flaps being provided with cuts near the ends of said flaps, which are adapted to be partially secured to the fold containing them and partially free to form a spring retaining portion, said cuts being in a direction transverse to the length of said flaps and adapted to form a flexible area adjacent said flaps to enable them to be bent backward or forward for the purpose of engaging more easily upon the outer surface of the other cx terior fold.

2. In a device of the character described, a sheet of material foldable to form two or more folds, flaps on one of said folds in proximity to, and extending in the direction of, each of the edgesiof said fold which are adjacent a line of folding, said fold forming one of the two exterior folds when said sheet is folded up, said flaps adapted to fold upon the outer surface of the other exterior fold, each of said flaps being secured to said fold containing member along a line intermediate its longitudinal edges and having one of its said edges free, the edges of said other folds being within the line of securing of said flaps and adapted to be received beneath said flaps.

3. In a device of the character described, a sheet of material foldable to form three or more folds, certain of said folds constituting correspondence receiving folds, flaps on one of said folds in proximity to, and extending in the direction of, each of the edges of said fold which are adjacent a line of folding,

said fold forming one of the two exterior folds when said sheet is folded up, said flaps adapted to fold upon the outer surface of the other exterior fold and means to seal said flaps upon such outer surfaces, but not upon said correspondence receiving folds, said exterior fold and said flaps adapted after sealing to constitute a permanent pocket from which said correspondence receiving folds may be unfolded upon the unsealing of only one of said sealing flaps.

4E. Ina device of the character described, a sheet of materialv foldable to form two or more folds, certain of said folds constituting correspondence receiving folds, flaps on one of said folds in proximity to, and extending in the direction of, each of the edges of said fold which are adjacent a line of folding, said fold forming one of the two exterior folds when said sheet is folded up, said flaps adapted to fold upon the outer surface of the other exterior fold and means to seal said flaps upon such outer surface, but not upon said correspondence receiving folds, and a line of perforations upon at least two folds and running transversely to said line of folding and so placed as to be interiorly removed from said flaps when they are sealed, adapted to facilitate the opening of the said device.

5. In a device of the character described, a sheet of material foldable to form three of more folds, one end fold of said sheet being wider than the other folds and adapted to have such excess width placed between the other folds when the sheet is folded up, and flaps on another fold having tabs adapted to be inserted between the first mentioned fold and the excess width of said first mentioned fold when such excess width is folded under said first mentioned fold.

6. In a device of the character described, a sheet of material foldable to form three or more folds, one end fold of said sheet being to enclose and secure the side edges of said Wider than the other'folds and adapted to other folds when folded. have such excess Width placed between the 5 permanently folded spring flaps on another presence of two subscribing Witnesses;

fold, said flaps having tabs adapted to be NATHAN OTTINGER. inserted beneath the first mentioned fold and I Witnesses V the excess Width of said first mentioned fold D. LEWIs MATTERN, When such excess Width is folded under said Mon M. VVEINBERG. 10 first mentioned fold, said spring flaps adapted In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as 7 other folds when the sheet is folded up, and my invention, I have signed my name in 

